Tears of a Stranger

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Adam was silent and pensive as he sat in his locker room. His thoughts were consumed by a method of bringing to Amy's attention everything he had on his mind.

The door suddenly opened, and the redhead entered the room with Trish. The two divas were engaged in a coversation, but the subject matter was lost on Adam as he decided to suck it all in and talk to his fiancee.

The women looked up as the tall Canadian called Amy's name.

"Trish, would you mind...?" He gestured with a turn of his head, and the little blonde saw that something in his green eyes.

Trish nodded knowingly.

"Listen, I'll see you later..." she said, then turned to leave the couple alone.

Amy eyed the man she loved with anticipation.

"Okay, you've got me all to yourself, Blondie," she quipped with a grin. "Now, what's up?"

Adam held his breath, knowing there was no way to delicately ask the question. He took hold of the redhead's small hand, leading her to the sofa to sit before speaking.

"Amy... I have something very important to as you..."

The diva's face wore a half-smile as she absorbed his words, then she let out a small chuckle.

"Well, I know you're not gonna ask me to marry you, 'cause you already did that..."

The tall blond man swallowed anxiously, then ran one hand through his long hair. This was not going to be an easy feat.

Amy grew a little more serious, cocking her head to one side as she regarded him. He looked so... concerned about something. Whatever was on his mind, it wasn't anything too humorous, or even the least bit pleasant.

"What is it?" she queried, reaching out with one hand to touch his shoulder.

Adam looked back up and into her hazel eyes. God, there was such guile in those orbs at the very moment, though he knew she'd seen a great deal of horror in her life. How he wished he could somehow go back in time and rescue her from that evil bastard - or prevent the asshole from ever having noticed her in the first place.

"Ames... Do you remember anything that happened to you four years ago?"

She arched a brow at the unexpected question.

"Yeah - I turned twenty-three years old."

"No..." Adam spoke, an unpleasant knot forming in his belly. "I mean later - in December." He remembered how Jeff had told him the awful things had befallen the redhead in December of that year. "Do you remember anything at all about December of 1998?"

The redhead's heart began to pound almost painfully, though she hadn't a clue as to why...

"N-no... I don't know what you mean," she replied, but her face had gone white as a sheet.

The Canadian couldn't help but wince. Damn it, he was certain that she'd recall something...

"You don't remember having shows at the Elk's Lodge? With ECW?"

Amy's eyes widened slightly. Wait, she did remember a few shows they'd been putting on in Queens, New York in late 1998... But why was Adam suddenly interested in that?

"I do, now that you mention it."

The blond man was suddenly relieved. He even let out a sigh for it. Then, "Amy, do you remember anything else?"

She stared at him, suspicion coursing through her - though she wondered why that emotion would overtake her. What was he getting at here?

She sat up, wrapping her arms around herself almost protectively.

"Why the interrogation, Adam?"

The Canadian flinched, not missing the sudden irritation in his fiancee's voice. Damn it, the last thing he wanted to do was upset her in any way.

"I'm sorry, baby," he said. "I don't mean it to be that way... It's just very important that you remember-"

Amy suddenly felt ill. She didn't know why, but she thought she might just be sick.

"I don't remember anything else about December of that year," she snapped, not sure why she was so upset with him... or with the idea of remembering that particular time in her life.

"Ames," Adam began softly, gently grasping her right wrist, "something terrible happened to you back then, and someone's playing games with you now... and I'm trying-"

She yanked violently out of his loose grip, her head hammering harder than ever.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Amy jumped to her feet. "I don't know why you're doing this to me, Adam, but it's gonna stop now! Leave me alone!" she shouted.

"Wait-" The blond man rose to his feet and inched closer, intending to calm her down.

"No! If you don't stop it, I'm going to spend the night with Trish!"

"Amy..."

Then, before Adam could say or do anything else, the redhead made a run for the door, a sob escaping her as she fled...





Part 36

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